Apparatus for use in producing burnt-clay ballast.



No. 686,964. Patented Nov. I9, |90I. G. M. BENNETT & T. FURGHAM.APPARATUS FOH USE IN PRODUCING BURNT CLAY BALLAST.

(Application led Nv. 12, 1900.)

(N Model.)

2 Sheets-.Sheet I.

aiu 4,

N0. 685,964. Patented NGV. I9, |90l. G. M. BENNETT T. FURGHAM, APPARATUSFUR USE IN PRODUCING BUBNT CLAY BALLAST.

(Appli'catinmed Nov. 12, woo.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

TN: Norms Psv-Ens co. PHoTaLmvm. WASHINGTON, n. c,

4UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. BENNETT AND THOMAS FORGHAM, OF KENOSHA, IVISOONSIN.

APPARATUS FOR YUSE lN PRODUCING BURNT-CLAY BALLAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,964, dated November179, 1 901.

Application lecl November 12, 1900. Serial No. 36,282. (No model.)

' following is a specication.

Our invention relates particularly to apparatus for use in theproduction of burnt-clay ballast for mixing fresh fuel with that portionof the forming ballast which has not become thoroughly burned in theiring operation and for further use in other necessary handling of theheated mass.

Our primary object is to provide means for accomplishing this part ofthe process of producing burnt-clay ballast more eheaply,easily, andefciently than heretofore.

In the production of burnt-clay ballast it is common to establish a bankof any desired length where the tiring operation is carried on. It isusual to spread first a layer of fuel upon the ground and then to takeclay from one side thereof and spread the same over the fuel, afterwhich the mass is iired-as described, for instance, in patent to Butlerand Simmons, No. 447,460, March 3, 1891. After firing there remains acrust of considerable depth, throughout which the clay is dried(kiln-dried) but not burned. It is necessary to break up this crust andmix fresh fuel with the same, after which other additional fuel and afresh supply of clay are added. After a bank is established, one ofwhose sloping sides is in the same plane as one side of the adjacentditch, the fresh supplies of fuel and clay are sprinkled over the top ofthe bank and the sloping surface, which extends from said top to thebottom of the ditch. In practice it is necessary to draw the unburnedmaterial at the top over onto the sloping bank, for the reason that itis impossible to develop sufficient heat near the surface to thoroughlyburn the top layer of clay., Machines for distributing coal to the bankand supplying clay as required are now in common use.

In the accompanying drawings is shown our improved apparatus forbreaking up the surface layer at the bank, mixing fresh coal rowing thebank, moving certain portions thereof,and mixing coal with the surfacelayer of the bank; Fig. 2, a broken View showing another position of theharrowing device; Fig. 3, an enlarged view, in front elevation, of theharrowing device detached from its cables; Fig. 4, a plan view of saidharrowing device; Fig. 5, a view in side elevation of the same, and Fig.6 an illustration of a modification.

A represents a combined harrowing device or drag andV scraper, andBamounted car of common construction, equipped in the fusual manner witha mast B', a boom B2, and drums Bsand B4. From the drum B3 a cable o,passes to the device A, and from the drum B4 a cable b passes about asheave b at the top of ,the mast B, thence about a sheave b2 at the endof the boom B2, and thence to the device A. The car is equipped with asuitable motor for rotating the drums B3 and B4.

The device A comprises a central tongue or pole c, brace members c',formed integral with a back section c2, a companion back section c3,curved teeth c4, clamped between the sections c2 and c3, a curvedmetallic scraperplate c5, connected with the pole c and the braces c', astrengthening-angle c6 at the upper margin of said plate c5,'side bracesc7, joining the braces cand the extremities of the plate c5,intermediate braces cs, joining the back sections to the plate c5, eyesc, connectedpwith the braces c in the rear of the IOO will be seen thatthe cable b at this time serves as a ldraft-cable and the cable a servesas a depth-regulating cable and also to return the harrowing device tothe foot of the incline after it has been pulled up the incline by thecable b.

When it is desired to draw the surface layer of the top of the bank overonto the inclined surface, the cable c, is connected with the clevis 012and the cable b is connected with the ring c, When thus connected, thecable a becomes the draft-cable and the cable l? serves to regulate thedepth and to retract the harrowing device. The pole and various membersof the frame also serve to limit the depth of cut.

The curved teeth c4 serve to hold the device down and cause the scraperto ill properly during the operation. (Illustrated in Fig. 2.) Fromaview of Fig. 1 it will be understood that it is possible to thoroughlyharrow the sloping surface of the bank from the base to the top. Inpractice after a bank of fuel and clay is properly formed and the masshas been ignited it is left to burn until the lower strata of clay areproperly burned, after which there will remain a surface layer of dryhard material which has not been properly burned. After the mass hasburned the required length of time coal is distributed over the top andsloping surface of the bank, after which the sloping surface isharrowed, as illustrated in Fig. l. The surface layer of the top of thebank is then dragged over onto the sloping surface, as illustrated inFig. 2. A layer of coal is then distributed to the sloping surface ofthe bank and to the top of the bank adjacent to the sloping surface,after which a layer of clay of the desired depth is added and the massleft to continue burning until the proper time to repeat the operationjust described. It is preferable to drag the surface layer of the top ofthe bank over onto the sloping surface after each harrowing and mixingoperation performed on the sloping surface.

The car B is movable parallel to the bank in a manner now wellunderstood, and the equipment of the car itself is now in common use foroperating a shovel for supplying clay to the bank. By means of ourimproved device A, connected to cables disposed as described, it ispossible to produce a thorough burning or firing clear down to the baseof the incline, thereby rendering it possible to preserve an'evenbase-surface for the ballast to rest upon; also, an easy means formechanically removing the surface layer at the top of the bank isprovided. Moreover, by reason of the improved manner of handling themass it is possible to make the operations succeed each other in morerapid succession, it being now unnecessary to allow so long a period forthe mass to burn as formerly.

It is believed to be wholly novel to provide a device for harrowing theinclined surface of the bank from the base to the top in combinationwith means for mechanically moving said harrowing device in the mannerdescribed. The harrowing device itself is believed to be wholly novel.Accordingly no limitation is intended by the foregoing detaileddescription except as shall appear from the appended claims.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. Inapparatus of the character described, the combination of a harrowingdevice, having harrowing-teeth substantially perpendicular to vthesurface engaged but inclined slightly forward and means for advancingsaid device from the base of the incline of a bank to the top of saidbank While said device is in operative engagement with said inclinedsurface, said device operating to stir but not to collect the materialengaged, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of aharrowing device disposed so as to permit it to be drawn up the inclinedsurface of a bank having harrowingteeth substantially perpendicular tothe surface engaged and inclined slightly forward, a pulley located inadvance of said device, a draft-cable passing about said pulley, anddisposed and equipped to draw said harrowing device up said inclinedsurface and a retracting-cable connected with the device, said deviceoperating to stir but not to collect the material engaged, substantiallyas described.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frameprovided at its front end with cable-attaching means, atransversely-extending scraper located centrally of the frame, anddownwardly-extending forwardly-curved harrowing-teeth located in therear of said scraper, substantially as described.

et. The combination of a suitably-braced draft-pole, atransversely-extending scraper located some distance from the front endthereof, and downwardly extending forwardly-curved harrowing-teethlocated some distance in the rear of said scraper, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of a rigid frame provided with a draft device, atransversely-extending forwardly and downwardly inclined scraper rigidlysecured thereto, and forwardly and downwardly extending rigid teethconnected with the frame in the rear of and projecting beneath the levelof said scraper, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carsupplied with a boom, a pulley connected with said boom, a cable passingabout said pulley, a combined scraper and harrowing device connectedsome distance from the advance end. with said cable,

IOO

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said device comprisingatransVersely-extendsaid car, substantially as andfor the purpose ing forwardly and downwardly inclined set forth.

scrapelgand teeth in the harrowofsaid scraper GEORGE M. BENNETT. andprojecting a considerable distance be- THOMAS FORGHAM. neath the levelof the same, and a draft-ca- In presence ofble connected with the frontend of said de- D. W. LEE,

Vice and leading to winding mechanism on ALBERT D. BACCI.

